SRIKAKULAM, ANDHRA PRADESH – A tragic stampede at the Venkateswara Swamy Temple in Kashibugga, Srikakulam district, on Saturday resulted in the confirmed deaths of nine devotees, with several others sustaining injuries. The injured have been admitted to nearby hospitals, and authorities fear the casualty count may rise due to the critical condition of some victims.
The incident occurred during the Ekadashi festival, which drew an exceptionally large crowd. According to Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Anita, while the temple usually sees 1,500 to 2,000 visitors weekly, the number was significantly higher on the festival day.
Railing Collapse Near Entrance: The stampede was triggered near the entrance of the temple complex, which is located on the first floor and accessed via a set of 20 stairs. Home Minister Anita confirmed that the crowd pressure at the entrance suddenly surged, leading to jostling that caused a railing to break. People were subsequently crushed by the surging crowd.
Videos from the scene showed a massive throng of people, including women, children, and the elderly, on the temple stairs. Following the chaos, people were seen scrambling to rescue women and children trapped in the human pile. Unconscious women were visible at the stampede site.
Chief Minister Expresses Grief: Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu expressed his profound sorrow over the incident. In a post, he stated, “The loss of lives in this tragic incident is deeply heart-wrenching. I extend my deepest condolences to the families of the deceased.” The Chief Minister instructed officials to provide immediate and adequate treatment to the injured. Agriculture Minister K. Atchannaidu immediately rushed to the scene to gather information and oversee the relief operations.
Local administration and police, who had rushed to the scene, deployed additional police force to manage the situation.
